Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

County of Charleston Historic Courthouse

By Michael Sean Nix, February 12, 2010

1. Charleston County Courthouse Marker

Inscription.

Originally built in 1753 as statehouse
of British Royal Government

Partially destroyed by fire in 1788

Rebuilt in 1792 with third floor addition

Restored to 1792 appearance
in 2001 by Charleston County

Location. 32° 46.59′ N, 79° 55.884′ W. Marker is in Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston County. Marker is at the intersection of Broad Street and Meeting Street, on the left when traveling east on Broad Street. Click for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 84 Broad Street, Charleston SC 29401, United States of America.

Additional comments. 1. Four Corners of LawThe Charleston County Courthouse sits at the intersection of Broad Street and Meeting Street in Charleston. It is one of four structures at this intersection commonly referred to as the "Four Corners of Law". St. Michael's Episcopal Church, built between 1752 and 1761, represents God's law. The Charleston County Courthouse, built in 1792, represents county law. The Charleston City Hall, built in 1802, represents city law. The U.S. Post Office and Court House, built in 1896, represents federal law.

— Submitted February 13, 2010, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina.

2. Charleston County CourthouseOriginally built in 1753, the building was constructed as South Carolina’s first and only colonial statehouse, and included some material believed to have been imported from Great Britain. From 1756 to 1788, the Statehouse was the seat of the Royal British Governor, the Colonial Assembly and the central meeting place for South Carolina politics. County of Charleston Historic Courthouse

Struck by fire in 1788, the two-story Georgian Palladian-style structure was gutted just prior to South Carolina’s Convention for Ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

By Michael Sean Nix, February 12, 2010

3. Charleston County Courthouse

The foundation and some exterior and interior walls were saved and used in the restoration effort that started in 1790. Ironically, the fire came just after the state had decided in 1786 to move the capital to Columbia.

Although still in an unfinished state, the building was visited in the early 1790s by President George Washington as he searched for architectural examples he could use as a pattern for the White House. While in Charleston, Washington met James Hoban, who worked as a local professor of architecture. Hoban would become the architect of the original White House, built in 1792. White House architectural historians have theorized that Hoban’s work in South Carolina influenced his White House design, noting that “the similarity between the Charleston statehouse and the first design of the White House is too strong to dismiss.”

In December 1792, the United States District Court began meeting in the new building, marking the beginning of its use as a courthouse. Over the years, the Courthouse has housed the Sheriff for the District, Prothanotary, Register of Mesne Conveyance, Register in Equity, all courts for the District, Comptroller General, State Treasurer, Circuit Solicitor, Charleston Library Society, the Library of the Medical Society and the S.C. Bar Association.

alterations and additions over time. For example, in 1883 the main entrance was moved from Broad to Meeting Street, and in 1941 the building was doubled in size. The building survived, with damage, through the 1886 earthquake and then 1989’s Hurricane Hugo. Recent restoration efforts focused on returning the building to its original 1792 appearance in an effort to honor its judicial history and preserve its rich heritage for future generations.

(From a program flyer for the Grand Re-Opening of the Courthouse in 2001.)

— Submitted February 13, 2010, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Credits. This page originally submitted on February 13, 2010, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,586 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on February 13, 2010, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 3, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 7, 8. submitted on October 3, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.